Overview

• Motsi Mabuse awarded Lewis Cope and Katya Jones the series’ first 10 for a Paso Doble from The Mask of Zorro, with the pair topping Movie Week on 37 as the other judges scored 9s.
• Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin finished second on 35, Harry Aikines‑Aryeetey and Karen Hauer scored 32, and Ross King sat last with 19.
• Neighbours star Stefan Dennis missed the live show through illness and, under Strictly rules, he and Dianne Buswell received a bye to next week.
• Online criticism intensified over perceived advantages for contestants with past dance or performance experience, particularly Cope and Davies, with some viewers alleging the competition feels unfair.
• Cope rejected claims he is professionally trained, saying he trained as an actor and has not had dance training since age 11, as the night also featured a live on‑air gaffe by judge Anton Du Beke and a leaked pre‑recorded results spoiler that angered fans.